Loading and unloading systems for bodies of railway cars or the like



p 3, 1963 A E PRICE 3,102,496

LOADING AND UNLAD lNG SYSTEMS FOR BODIES 0F RAILWAY CARS OR THE LIKEFiled July 21. 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ri INVENTOR. Q3 ALBERT E. PRICE AToR'NEYs FIG! p 3, 1963 A. E. PRICE LOADING AND UNLOADING SYSTEMS FORBODIES OF RAILWAY CARS OR THE LIKE Filed July 21. 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR.

ALBERT E. PRCE BY 6 l M ATTORNEYS Sept. 3, 1963 A. E. PRICE LOADING ANDUNLOADING SYSTEMS FOR BODIES OF RAILWAY ems OR THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3Filedduly 21, 1961 IIII Sept. 3, 1963 A. E. PRICE LOADING AND UNLOADINGSYSTEMS FOR BODIES OF RAILWAY CARS OR THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FiledJuly 21. 1961 /11 Ill/I ||...l.| lllvlial INVENTOR. ALBERT E. PRICE p 3,1963 A. E. PRICE 3,102,496

LOADING AND UNLOADING SYSTEMS FOR BODIES OF RAILWAY CARS OR THE LIKEFiled July 21. 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIGIO INVENTOR. ALBERT E. PRICE AToRNEYs United States Patent 3,102,496 LOADING AND UNLOADLNG SYSTEMS FORBODIES 0F RAILWAY CARS OR THE LIKE Albert E. Price, Chicago, 11].,assignor to General American Transportation Corporation, Chicago, 111.,a corporation of New York Filed July 21, 1963, Ser. No. 125,786 Claims.(Cl. 104-98) The present invention relates to loading and unloadingsystems for bodies of railway cars, or the like, and more particularlyto such systems that are especially designed for use in conjunction withpacking houses for the transfer of dressed meats between refrigeratorsprovided in such packing houses and such bodies that are also providedwith refrigerating facilities.

It is a general object of the invention to provide in the body of arailway car, or the like, an improved overhead rail transfer system thataccommodates both ready loading and ready unloading of the ladingchamber of the body through the side doorways provided in the side wallsthereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved transfersystem of the character noted, that includes a plurality of laterallyextending beams that are mounted by respectively cooperating pairs ofguide rollers for selective longitudinal rolling movements in the ladingchamber between a common transfer position disposed adjacent to thedoorways provided in the side walls of the body and a correspondingplurality of storage positions disposed away from the side doorways andtoward the opposite end walls of the body, and a corresponding pluralityof lading rails respectively carried by the beams and movable therewith,whereby each of the lading rails may be readily loaded or unloaded withrespect to the exterior through either one of the associated doorwayswhen the associated beam occupies its transfer position, and wherebyeach of the beams may be readily rolled into and out of its storageposition carrying therewith the associated lading rail that may beeither in loaded or unloaded condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved transfersystem of the character noted, that further comprises a plurality ofroller-mounted lading carriages that may be selectively rolled onto orotf of either end of any one of the lading rails through the corresponding one of the side doorways when the associated beam occupies itstransfer position.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved transfersystem of the character noted that further comprises a turn-aroundmechanism that may be selectively mounted in either one of the sidedoorways in cooperating relation with the adjacent end of one of thelading rails when the associated beam occupies its transfer position,which turn-around mechanism is adapted completely to turn around any oneof the lading carriages incident to loading or unloading thereof withrespect to the adjacent end of one of the lading rails, thereby toaccommodate the transfer system to an outside ladinghandling facilitythat may be inherently of left-hand type or of right-hand type, in thesense that the outside lading handling facility mentioned must receiveeither the left-hand end or the right-hand end of one of the ladingcarriages.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved transfersystem of the character noted, wherein the turn-around mechanism isespecially designed for quick attachment and quick detachment in thedoorway of the body so as to facilitate ready loading and readyunloading of the body.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improvedtransfer system of the character noted, and further comprising a bracketthat is detachably mounted in 3,102,496 Patented Sept. 3, 1963 the sidedoorway of the side wall of the body, which bracket carries both theturn-around mechanism mentioned disposed in an inner position adjacentto the outer end of one of the lading rails and a receiving raildisposed in an outer position with respect to the turn-around mechanism,whereby any one of the lading carriages may be readily rolled in eitherdirection between the receiving rail and the lading rail across thetransfer mechanism, with or without turn around of the lading carriagein passing over the turn-around mechanism disposed between the receivingrail and the lading rail.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangementof the elements of the lading transfer system in the body of the railwaycar, or the like, whereby the above-outlined and additional operatingfeatures thereof are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation,together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best beunderstood by reference to the following specification, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a railway refrigerator car,including a car body defining a refrigerated lading compartment andprovided with side access doorways thereinto and incorporating a loadingand unloading system embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken throughthe car body away from the adjacent side doorway in the direction of thearrows along the line 2--2 in FIG. 1, and illustrating the left-hand endof one of the beams forming a part of the loading and unloading systemmentioned;

FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary vertical view, partly insection, of the left-hand end of the beam mentioned, illustrating themounting arrangement therefor;

FIG. 4 is another enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view, similarto FIG. 2, taken through the car body at the adjacent side doorway inthe direction of the arrows along the line 4-4 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional View of the beam mentioned,this View being taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 55in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view, partly insection, of the pair of lading rails that are carried by the beam ofFIGS. 2, 4 and 5, and also illustrating a turn-around mechanism that maybe carried by the pair of lading rails mentioned, the mechanism havingan operative position as shown in full lines and a storage position asshown in dotted lines;

PEG. 7 is an enlarged plan view of the pair of hiding rails and themechanism. as shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged end elevational view of the pair of lading railsand the mechanism, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, this view being taken inthe direction of the arrows along the line 3-8 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view, similar toFIG. 4, taken through the car body at the adjacent side doorway, andillustrating a modified mounting bracket for supporting the turn-aroundmechanism in the side doorway mentioned in cooperating relation with apair of the lading rails carried by a corresponding one of the beamsdisposed adjacent to the side doorway mentioned; and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged end elevational view of the mounting bracket forthe turn-around mechanism, this view being taken in the direction of thearrows along the line 10-10 in FIG. 9.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the railway refrigerator car 10 thereillustrated may be of any suitable conventional type, the railway car 10illustrated being of the general construction and arrangement of thatdisclosed in the copending application of Paul Talmey, Serial No.14,788,

3 filed March 14, 1960, now Patent No. 3,062,156. Specifically, therailway car comprises a car body 11 that is divided by a heat-insulatingbulkhead, not shown, into a machinery compartment occupying theleft-hand end thereof and a refrigerated lading compartment 14 occupyingthe central and righthand end portions thereof, as shown in FlG. 1. Thecar body 11 defining the lading compartment 14 is of heat-insulatingstructure including a pair of longitudinally extending and laterallyspacedapart side walls 12 having laterally aligned doorways 13 formedtherein and communicating with the opposite sides of the central portionof the refrigerated lading compartment 14, as best shown in FIG. 4. Eachof the doorways 13 is provided with an associated heat-insulating door15 of the plug-type, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4. Each of the plugdoors 15 is mounted upon individually associated upper and lower trackstructures 16 and 17, respectively, and carried by the associated sidewall 12 of the car body 11, each of the plug doors 15 being selectivelymovable between open and closed positions with respect to the associateddoorway 13 in the usual manner.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the side wall 12 of the body 11 is ofcomposite sandwich construction, including an inner plywood sheet 21, anouter plywood sheet 211?, a layer of cellular heat-insulating material23 disposed between the inner plywood sheet 21 and the outer plywoodsheet 21a, and a metal outer sheet 22, constituting a weather sheet.carried by the outer surface of the outer plywood sheet 21a. Also, theside wall 12 carries a plywood flue sheet 24 spaced laterally inwardlywith respect to the inner plywood sheet 21 by a plurality of upstandingand longitudinally spaced-apart posts 25, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and3. Accordingly, the posts 25 define upstanding longitudinallyspaced-apart lines 26 disposed between the inner plywood sheet 21 andthe plywood flue sheet 24; and it is pointed out that air that has beencooled by the evaporator of the refrigerating machinery, not shown, iscirculated forwardly into the floor structure, not shown, provided inthe lading compartment 14 and thence upwardly through the dues 26 intothe adjacent upper portion of the lading compartment 14, and alsoupwardly through the lading compartment 14, and thence back reurwardlyto the evaporator of the refrigerating machinery mentioned.

As best shown in FIG. 4, the car body 11 further comprises a ceilingpanel 31 of composite sandwich construction including a plywood ceilingsheet 32, an outer plywood sheet 33 and a layer of cellularheat-insulating material 34 disposed between the plywood ceiling sheet32 and the outer plywood sheet 33. The opposite sides of the ceilingpanel 33 are supported upon the adjacent upper ends of the inner plywoodsheets 21 of the side walls 12, as best shown in FIG. 4, and the ceilingpanel 31 is retained in place by a. plurality of longitudinallyspacedapart clips 35 positioned thereabove and rigidly secured to theadjacent portion of the outer metal sheet 22 of the side wall 12. Theceiling panel 31 is covered by an associated roof sheet 36 disposedthereabove, the outer edge of the roof sheet 36 being suitably joined.as by welding. indicated at 37, to the adjacent upper edge of the outermetal sheet 22 of the side wall 12. The space between the outer plywoodsheet 33 of the ceiling panel 31 and the adjacent roof sheet 36 is atleast partially filled by an associated mass 38 of fibrous insulatingmaterial. The void between the top end of the layer 23 of insulatingmaterial incorporated in the side wall 12 and the side of the layer 34of insulating material incorporated in the ceiling panel 31 is filled bya longitudinally extending mass of cellular insulating material 39 andby a longitudinally extending mass of caulking compound 40, as bestshown in FIG. 4.

The doorway 13 provided in the side wall 12 of the car body 11 isprovided with a lintel 51 in the form of a hardwood beam, as best shownin FIG. 4; which beam 51 extends longitudinally over the top of thedoorway 13 and is arranged at the corner junction between the top of theinterior portion of the side wall 12 and the adjacent side of theinterior portion of the insulating panel 31.

Also, as shown in FIG. 4, the plug door 15, in 1ts closed position withrespect to the doorway 13, comprises heat-insulating structure disposedwithin the doorway 13 and below the lintel 51. Specifically, theheat-insulating structure mentioned includes an upstanding inner plywoodsheet 52, a metal outer sheet 53 and an intermediate slab of cellularheat-insulating material 54 disposed between the inner plywood sheet 52and the metal outer sheet 53.

The construction and arrangement of the car body 11 has been describedabove only in general outline, since the details of the constructionthereof form no part of the present invention, and since these detailsare completely disclosed in the previously mentioned Talmey application.

In the car body 11, there is incorporated a loading and unloadingsystem, embodying the features of the present invention, and comprising,as best shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, a pair of longitudinally extendingand laterally spaced-apart guide rails 61 arranged in the upper portionof the lading compartment 14 and respectively disposed adjacent to thecorner junctions between the upper portions of the side walls 12 and theside portions of the ceiling panel 31; and more particularly, the guiderails 61 extend from end to end of the lading compartment 14. Theopposite ends of each of the guide rails 61 are disposed upon theadjacent tops of the side posts 25 and are rigidly secured in place, asby welding, as indicated at 62 in FIG. 3; and the intermediate portionof each of the guide rails 61 is secured to the adjacent inner side ofthe lintel 51 by an arrangement including an associated bracket 63carried thereby, as shown in FIG. 4. Accordingly, it will be understoodthat each of the guide rails 61 extends from end to end of the ladingcompartment 14 and the central portion thereof extends over the top ofthe side doorway 13 disposed in the adjacent side Wall 12 of the carbody 11, as clearly illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, taken together.Moreover, the pair of guide rails 61 are disposed suitably below theinner ceiling sheet 32 of the ceiling panel 31, as illustrated in FIGS.2 and 4.

Also, the loading and unloading system comprises a plurality oflaterally extending beams, one of which is illustrated at 71 in FIGS. 2,3, 4 and 5. More particularly, in the car body 11, the ladingcompartment 14 may have a length between the end walls thereof of 40ft.; whereby eighteen of the beams 71 are incorporated in the systemmentioned. Each of the beams 71 essentially comprises an H-section, asbest shown in FIG. 5; and each of the beams 71 is mounted forlongitudinal rolling movements upon the guide rails 61 from end to endof the lading compartment 14 and over the pair of substantiallycentrally disposed doorways 13 respectively provided in the side walls12. More particularly, the opposite ends of each of the beams 71 carry apair of mounting brackets 72 that. in turn, carry a pair of rollers 73that are respectively supported upon the guide rails 61.

As best shown in FIG. 3, each of the mounting brackets 72 issubstantially L-shaped including a horizontal arm 74 disposed below theadjacent end of the beam 71 and a vertical arm 75 disposed laterallyoutwardly with respect to the adjacent end of the beam 71. Thehorizontal arm 74 of the bracket 72 is secured to the adjacent end ofthe beam 71 by a plurality of vibration dampers 76. Each of thevibration dampers 76 includes, as shown in FIG. 3, a bolt 77 extendingthrough a corresponding opening provided in the lower web of the beam 71and extending through a corresponding aligned opening provided in thearm 74, a metal sleeve 78 surrounding the shank of the bolt 77, and aresilient grommet 79, formed of rubber, or the like, surrounding thesleeve 78. The resilient grommet 79 is maintained under compressionwithin the opening provided in the arm 74 by an arrangement including anassociated compression washer S0 surrounding the outer end of the bolt77; the washer 80 being retained in place by an associated lock washer81 of the split-ring type engaging the lower surface thereof and securedin place by an associated nut 82 carried upon the threaded extreme lowerend of the shank of the bolt 77.

The vertical arm 75 of the bracket 72 carries a laterally outwardlyextending trunnion 83 that, in turn, carries the associated roller 73.More particularly, the outer end of the trunnion 83 is provided with acylindrical barrel 34 that forms the inner bearing member of anassoelated anti-friction bearing of the needle or roller type; whichlast mentioned bearing further includes a plurality of cylindricalneedles or rollers 85 arranged within a concavity provided in thecentral portion of the roller 73 and surrounding the bearing member 84.The roller 73 and the associated anti-friction bearing therefor isretained in place by an associated Washer 86 arranged on the extremeouter end of the bearing member 84; which washer 85 is retained in placeby an associated bolt 87 arranged in threaded engagement with alaterally extending threaded opening, not shown, provided in the outerend of the bearing member 84.

In view of the foregoing, it will be understood: that the supportingbracket 72 is resiliently mounted upon the adjacent outer end ot thebeam 71 by the plurality of vibration dampers 76; that the supportingbracket 72, in turn, carries the associated roller 73 rotatably mountedupon the associated anti-friction bearing; and that the roller 73 is, inturn, mounted upon the guide rail 61. Hence, the beam 71 is mounted forlongitudinal rolling movements in the lading compartment 14 upon theguide rails 61 by the rollers 73; and moreover, the vibration dampers 76minimize the transmission of vibration to the beam 71 from the guiderails 61 that are rigidly carried by the side walls 12 of the body 11 ofthe railway car Ill.

Further, the beams 71 are provided with a common transfer positiondisposed adjacent to and in lateral alignment with the central portionsof the laterally aligned doorways 13 respectively provided in the sidewalls 12 of the car body 11; and also, the beams 71 are provided withindividual storage positions disposed in the opposite ends of the ladingcompartment 14. More particularly, in the present example, when theeighteen beams 71 occupy their storage positions in the ladingcompartment 14, a first group of nine of the beams 71 are respectivelydisposed in their storage positions in one end of the lading compartment14 in longitudinally spaced-apart relation with each other, and a secondgroup of nine of the beams 71 are disposed in the other end of thelading compartment 14 in longitudinally spaced-apart relation with eachother; and at this time, a laterally extending vestibule is vacantthrough the central portion of the lading compartment 14 between thelaterally aligned doorways 13 respectively provided in the side walls 12of the car body 11. Thus, it will be understood that the transferposition mentioned is not only common to the eighteen beams 71 butoccurs in the laterally extending vestibule between the laterallyaligned doorways 13; while the two groups of storage positions arerespectively disposed longitudinally on either side of the transferposition mentioned, the eighteen storage positions being individual tothe eighteen beams 71.

For the purpose of selectively latching each of the beams 71 either inthe common transfer position or in its individual storage position, thesame carries individual latching mechanism 90 that cooperates with acommon longitudinally extending latch plate 91 that is carried by thecentral portion of the ceiling sheet 32 of the associated ceiling panel31 of the car body 11, as shown in FIG. 2. More particularly, theindividual latching mechanism 9% that is carried by each of the beams 71essentially comprises a latch bolt 92 that is urged upwardly intocooperating relation with respect to a longitudinally extending seriesof holes 91a provided in the cooperating latch plate 91. Morespecifically, a lever 93 extends through an opening provided in thelatch bolt 92, one end of the lever '93 being pivotally connected to thebeam 71 by an associated pivot pin 94 and the other end of the lever '93carrying a pivot pin 95 to which there is connected a downwardlyextending bolt 96 projecting through an opening provided in the lowerweb of the associated beam 71. A compression spring 97 is arranged insurrounding relation with respect to the bolt 96 and urges the outer endof the lever 93 upwardly so as to thrust the latch bolt 92 upwardlytoward cooperating relation with respect to the associated latch plate91. The extreme lower end of the bolt 96 carries a loop 98 that may bepulled downwardly, utilizing a manually operable pull cable, not shown;whereby the bolt 96 may be pulled downwardly so as to actuate the latchbolt 92 downwardly with respect to the cooperating latch plate 91, thedownward movement of the bolt 96 compressing the compression spring 97so as to effect the return of the latch bolt 92 back toward thecooperating latch plate 91 upon the release of the pull cable mentioned.

Recapitulating: the latch bolt 92 is normally thrust upwardly intolatched position with respect to one of the latch holes 910 provided inthe cooperating latch plate 91 by the compression spring 97; and whenthe pull cable, not shown, pulls downwardly upon the loop 98, thecompression spring 97 is compressed and the lever 93 actuates the latchbolt 92 downwardly so as to cause the upper end of the latch bolt 92. tomove out of latched engagement with respect to one of the latch holes91a in the cooperating latch plate 91. Upon the subsequent release ofthe pull cable, not shown, the compression spring 97 returns the latchbolt 92 into its latched position,

as previously noted. Thus, it will be understood that after operation ofthe latch bolt 92 into its unlatched position with respect to thecooperating latch plate 91, the beam 71 may be rolled longitudinallybetween its individual storage position and the common transfer positionpreviously mentioned. Also, it will be appreciated that the beam 71 issecurely latched in place either in its individual storage position orin the previously mentioned common transfer position by the latchmechanism 90 upon release of the pull cable, not shown, that isoperatively associated with the loop 98.

Also, each of the beams 71 carries in depending position thcrebelow, asshown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, a pair of laterally extending lading railsR100 and 1.100 arranged in lside-by-side relation with respect to eachother. The rail R100 constitutes a right-hand lading rail and the railL100 constitutes a left-hand lading rail, as illustrated in FIG. 5 andas explained more fully below. More particularly, a plurality oflaterally spaced-apart depending supports .101 are rigidly secured atthe upper ends thereof to the bottom flange of the beam 71, as bywelding, and project downwardly therefrom into supporting relation withrespect to the lading rail R109 and L160. The intermediate portions ofthe supports 101 are cross-braced by a laterally extending plate 102together with a number of side gusset plates 103 and a pair of endgusset plates 104, thereby to lend rigidity to the downwardly projectingsup ports 101. The lading rails R100 and L100 are disposed on oppositesides of the support 101 adjacent to the lower ends thereof and arerigidly secured thereto by a corresponding plurality of fasteners,indicated as rivets 105, as best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. In thearrangement, the ladiug rail R100 is substantially Z-shaped and projectsupwardly and outwardly toward the right as viewed in FIG. 5, providingat the upper edge thereof a laterally disposed track rail adapted toreceive and to support a corresponding group of roller nounted ladingcarriages; and likewise, the lading rail L166 is substantially Z-shapedand projects upwardly and outwardly toward the left, as viewed in FIG.5, providing at the upper edge thereof a laterally disposed track railadapted to receive and to support a corresponding group ofrollerrnounted lading carriages. The lading rails R100 and L100 aredisposed somewhat below the lintel 51 carried by the tops of the sidedoorways 13 when the corresponding beam 71 occupies its transferposition; and also at this time, the opposite ends of the lading railsR100 and L100 are respectively disposed adjacent to and in alignmentwith the corresponding side doorways 13. The opposite ends of the ladingrails R100 and L100 are disposed laterally inwardly a suflicientdistance with respect to the side doorways 13 so that they are arrangedin noninterfering relation with respect to the plug doors 15 in theirclosed positions, as best illustrated in FIG. 4.

Further, the system comprises a plurality of the previously mentionedroller-mounted lading carriages 110, that are adapted to be selectivelysupported by the lading rails R100 and L100 of the pair carried by eachof the beams 71. As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the lading carriages110 are identical, and each of them essentially comprises a strap 111that is provided with a return-bend section 112 adjacent to the upperend thereof that receives a cooperating roller 113, the roller 113 beingmounted for rotation upon a journal pin 114 extending between thespaced-apart legs of the return-bend section 112 of the strap 11. Thelower end of the strap 111 terminates in a flange 115 having an openingtherethrou gh in which one end of an eye bolt 116 is mounted for swivelmovements. In turn, the eye bolt 116 is provided with a lower loop 117that receives and supports a lading carrier 118 in the form of acomposite hook. More particularly, the upper end of the lading carrier118 is provided with a ring-like structure 119 that is carried by thering-like structure 117 of the eye bolt 116; and the outer end of thelading carrier 118 terminates in a sharp pointed spike 120. Accordingly,it will be understood that the lading carrier 118 essentially comprisesa meat hook that is adapted to engage and to support a beef quarter in aconventional manner.

While the lading carriages 110 are identical, it is noted riage 110 isdisposed on the outside of the engaged lading rail R100 or L100.

In the arrangement, the coordinate pair of lading rails R100 and L100are adapted to receive a group of eight of the lading carriages 110; andall of this group of lading carriages may be loaded upon either of thelading rails R100 or L100, or the group may be divided indiscriminatelybetween the two lading rails R100 and L100. This will be immediatelyapparent when it is appreciated that the total lateral distance betweenthe opposite ends of the coordinate pair of lading rails R100 and L100corresponds to the space that is occupied by a group of eight beefquarters respectively carried by the group of eight lading carriages110.

Again referring to FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, it is pointed out that the extremelower ends of the supports 101 project downwardly somewhat below thesupported pair of lading rails R100 and L100 to provide a correspondingplurality of laterally spaced-apart tabs 121; and also a plurality ofindividual tabs 122 are carried by the pair of lading rails R100 andL100 in intervening laterally spaced-apart relation with respect to thetabs 121, the tabs 122 also projecting downwardly below the coordinatepair of lading rails R100 and L100. The series of tabs 121 and 122carried by the coordinate pair of lading rails R100 and L100 are thusdisposed in laterally spaced-apart relation and are respectivelyprovided with holes 123 thcrethrough that are adapted to receive acorresponding plurality of stays, not shown, so as to block in place theindividual lading carriages 110 that are carried by the coordinate pairof lading rails R100 and L100. For example, the stays mentioned maycomprise conventional meat hooks, or the like, that are thrust through.the respective holes 123 of the tabs 12 1 E22, thereby to prevent unduelateral shifting of the beef quarters respectively carried by the ladingcarriages 110 that are, in turn, carried by the lading rails R100 andL100.

Considering now the general mode of loading the lading compartment 14 ofthe railway refrigerator car 10, it is pointed out that the same may becompletely loaded through either one of the side doorways 13 dependingupon the position of the adjacent loading platform with respect to therailway track sliding, when the corresponding one of the plug doors 15occupies its open position with respect to the associated side doorway13. At this time, all of the beams 71 in the empty lading compartment 14may be rolled along the guide rails 61 into one end of the ladingcompartment 14. Then one of the beams 71 is rolled into its commontransfer position and latched in place, utilizing the individuallatching mechanism whereby at this time the opposite ends of thecoordinate pair of lading rails R and L100 arc respectively disposed inalignment with the pair of side doorways 13. It is, of course, assumedthat the plug door 15 occupies its open position with respect to theassociated side doorway 13 disposed adjacent to the loading platform.The individual loaded lading carriages are then loaded upon the ladingrails R100 and L100, and the individual beef quarters carried by thelading carriages 110 are suitably blocked in place against undue lateralmovements utilizing stays in the series of holes 123 in the tabs 121 and122, in the manner previously explained. More particularly, at thistime, the eight loaded lading carriages 110 are loaded upon the ladingrails R100 and L100 of the coordinate pair while the associated beam 71occupies its transfer position in the laterally extending vestibulebetween the side doorways 13. After the pair of lading rails R100 andL100 are thus loaded, the latching mechanism 90 is operated to releasethe associated beam 71; whereby the loaded beam 71 is rolled along thepair of guide rails 61 into the extreme end position in the other end ofthe lading compartment 14. At this time, the loaded beam 71 occupies itsnormal storage position and the latching mechanism 90 latches the samein place in its normal storage position.

In a similar manner, the other eight beams 71 are successively loadedand rolled along the pair of guide rails 61 into their respectivestorage positions and latched in place, whereby at this time the otherend of the lading compartment 14 is completely loaded.

The nine unloaded beams 71 remaining in the one end of the ladingcompartment 14 are then rolled along the guide rail 61 into thevestibule and the adjacent portion of the other end of the ladingcompartment 14. At this time, the innermost one of the unloaded beams 71is rolled into the common transfer position and latched in place;whereupon this beam 71 is loaded in the manner previously explained andthen rolled along the guide rails 61 back into the extreme end positionin the one end of the lading compartment 14 and latched in place in itscorresponding storage position. he loading of the other eight unloadedbeams 71 is the same as that described above; whereby these unloadedbeams 71 are successively loaded and rolled along the guide rails 61into their corresponding storage positions in the one end of the ladingcompartment 14. At this time, the lading compartment 14 is completelyloaded, except for the laterally extending vestibule disposed betweenthe two laterally aligned side doorways 13; whereby other ladings may bearranged in the empty vestibule, in the usual manner. Then, the plugdoor 15 is closed with respect to the associated side doorway 13 and theseals upon the two plug doors 15 are perfected, in accordance withconventional practice. At this time, it is mentioned that therefrigerating machinery in the machinery compartment of the refrigeratorcar is operated so as to effect cooling of the lading compartment 14 andthe ladin g stored therein. Specifically, when the lading compartment 14is thus completely loaded, nine of the beams 71 are disposed in each endthereof, and each of the nine beams 71 carries the group of eightindividual lading carriages 110.

The unloading of the lading compartment 14 of the railway refrigeratorcar 10 is accomplished in a manner substantially identical to theloading thereof, except that the sequence of steps involving themanipulation of the lading carriages 110 upon the pairs of lading railsR100 and L100 and the manipulations of the beams 71 upon the pair ofguide rails 61 are effected employing a reversal of the principal steps,as described above.

In order to facilitate the loading and unloading of the coordinate pairsof lading rails R100 and L100, there is provided a turn-around mechanism130, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, inclusive. More particularly, themechanism 130 comprises a bracket 131 that may be detachably secured inan operative position, as shown in solid lines in FIG. 6, to any one ofthe pairs of lading rails R100 and L100, and that may be detachablysecured in a storage posit-ion, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 6, toany one of the pairs of lading rails R100 and L100. More particularly,the extreme inner end of the bracket 131 may be pivotally connected tothe adjacent tab 121 carried by the pair of lading rails R100 and L100,utilizing a removable pin 132; while the intermediate portion of thebracket 131 may be secured to either one of the adjacent tabs 122,utilizing a removable pin 133. More particularly, when the bracket 131occupies its operative position, the pin 133 is secured in the opening123 provided in the left-hand tab 122; on the other hand, when thebracket 131 occupies its storage position, the pin 133 is secured in theopening 123 provided in the right-hand tab 122.

Further, the mechanism 130 comprises a barrel 134 that is rigidlysecured to the outer end of the bracket 131 and movable therewith; whichbarrel 134 carries a turntable or platform 13S supported upon a ballbearing 136 arranged between the end of the barrel 134 and the platform135, the platform 135 being mounted for rotation upon a trunnion 137carried by the end of the barrel 134. In turn, the platform 135 carriesa pair of longitudinally spaced-apart upstanding transfer rails R140 andL140 that are spaced-apart a distance corresponding to that of the guidetracks respectively carried by the tops of the lading rails R100 andL100 of the coordinate pair, as best shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

Thus, it will be understood that in a loading operation, one of thelading carriages 110 may be received either by the right-hand transferrail R140 or by the left-hand transfer rail L140, depending upon the endof the l'ading carriage 110 that is presented to the mechanism 130. Alading carriage 110 carried by the transfer rail R140 may be rolleddirectly onto the adjacent end of the lading rail R100; and similarly, alading carriage 110 carried by the transfer rail L140 may be rolleddirectly onto the adjacent end of the lcding rail L100. On the otherhand, in the event that it is desirable to load onto the lading railL100, 3. lading carriage 110 that is supported by the transfer railR140, or in the event it is desirable to load onto the lading rail R100,a lading carriage 110 that is supported by the transfer rail L140, aturn-around of the lading carriage 110 is required that can be readilyaccompiished by rotation of the platform 135 through an angle of 180 inthe required direction, as viewed in FIG. 7. When the turn-around of theplatform 135 of the mechanism 130 is eifected, the transfer rails R140and L140 respectively cooperate with the outer ends of the fading railsL100 and R100. Thus it will be understood that a lading carriagereceived by either one of the trans- 1'0 fer rails R140 or L140 may bereadily transferred to either one of the lading rails R or L100, theturnaround of the mechanism 130 being necessary upon occasion and basedupon the direction of the presentation of the lading carriage to themechanism 130.

Of course, it will be understood that the unloading of a lading carriagebetween one of the lading rails R100 and L100 and the transfer railsR140 and L140 may be effected in a substantially identical manner; andof course after one of the lading carriages 110 has been deposited insupported position upon one of the transfer rails R140 or L140, aturn-around of the mechanism may be desirable depending upon therelationship of the outside conveying system and the mechanism 130 aswill be readily appreciated from an examination of FIGS. 6 and 7.

Further, it will be understood that the bracket 131 carrying themechanism 130 may be selectively mounted in a ready manner upon eitherend of the coordinate pair of lading rails R100 and L100 so that thetransfer of the lading may take place through either one of the sidedoorways 13 in the opposite side walls 12 of the car body 11. Further,it will be appreciated that the bracket 131 may be transferred from onepair of the lading rails R100 L100 to another pair thereof as thecorresponding beams 71 are presented to the common transfer position inthe central portion of the lading compartment 14 in the loading andunloading operations, as previously explained.

Referring now to F163. 9 and 10, there is shown a modified arrangementof the turn-around facility that includes a plate 251 that is detachablymounted in either one of the side doorways 13, as required, incooperating relation with respect to any one of the coordinate pairs oflading rails Rl00-L100 in the transfer position of the associated beam71. More particularly, the upper end of the plate 251 has rigidlysecured thereto a longitudinally extending plate 252 in which there areprovided two longitudinally spaced-apart lteyhole slots 253 that, inturn, cooperate with two longitudinally spaced-apart bolts 254 carriedby the outer metal sheet 22 of the side wall 12 of the car body 11. Morespecifically, the plate 252 may be readily placed and removed withrespect to the outer metal weather sheet 22 of the side wall 12 at thecentral portion of the associated doorway 13 by appropriate manipulationof the keyhole slots 253 with respect to the cooperating bolts 254 Inthe arrangement the enlarged lower portions of the keyhole slots 253will slip-over the enlarged heads of the bolts 254 only when the plate252 is elevated with respect to the outer metal weather sheet 22 of theside wall 12; and in this regard, it is noted that the plate 252 isshown in its normal operative position with respect to the outer metalweather sheet 22 of the side wall 12 in FIGS. 9 and 10. The lower end ofthe plate 251 carries a bracket 255 that, in turn, carries, at the innerend thereof, a turn-around mechanism 230; which turn-around mechanism230 is identical to the turn-around mechanism 130, as previouslydescribed in conjunction with F163. 6, 7' and 8. Also, the lower pootion of the plate 251 carries a pair of receiving rails R260 and L260disposed above the bracket 255, the inner ends of the receiving railsR260 and L260 cooperating with the pair of transfer rails R240 and L240of the turnaround mechanism 230.

In the arrangement, when the plate 251 occupies its normal operativeposition in the side doorway 13 with the corresponding plug door 15 inits open position, the turn-around mechanism 230 is disposed incooperating relation with respect to the adjacent outer ends of the pairof lading rails R100L100 carried by any one of the beams 71 in thecommon transfer position thereof. Accordingly, it will be appreciatedthat any one of the lading carriages 110 may be rolled in eitherdirection from one of the receiving rails R260-L260 to any one of theiading rails Rlilil -Llttl) across one of the transfer rails R240L240,either with or Without a turn-around of the lading carriage 210 by themechanism 230, as may be required in the loading or unloading operation.

In connection with the use of the turn-arund mech anism 230, it ispointed out that after the same has been mounted in place in theassociated side doorway 13, the transfer of lading carriages 110 betweenthe receiving rails R260 and L266 and the various coordinate pairs oflading rails RIM-L100 may take place without subsequent manipulation ofthe mounted position of the plate 251 in its operative position in theassociated side doorway 13. This arrangement of the transfer equipment,including the turn-around mechanism 230-, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, isvery advantageous, by virtue of the fact that after the railwayrefrigerator car 10 has been properly spotted upon the associatedrailway track siding and with respect to the cooperating platform, asingle connection can be perfected between the outside rail transfersystem, not shown, and an appropriate one of the receiving rails R260 orL260, depending upon whether the outside rail transfer system, notshown, is essentially a right-hand system or a left-hand system. It willbe, of course, appreciated that the outside rail transfer system that isincorporated in the associated refrigerated locker or storage warehouseis normally either a right hand system or a left-hand system dependingupon the mode of support of the system with respect to the associatedcolumns that are ordinarily utilized for the supporting purpose.

Thus it will be appreciated that a normally right-hand outside railsystem will be connected to the right-hand receiving rail R260 after therailway refrigerator car 10 has been spotted and after the plate 251 hasbeen placed in its operative position in the associated adjacent sidedoorway 13. Then the beams 71 may be successively brought into thecommon transfer position so as to insure successive cooperation betweenthe coordinate pairs of lading rails R100L10t and the turn-aroundmechanism 230; whereby the railway refrigerator car may be readilyloaded or unloaded with respect to the refrigerated locker or warehouseas may be required in the handling of the lading.

In the foregoing description of the loading and unloading system that isincorporated in the lading compartment 14, the lading carriages 110 havebeen described as carrying the meat hooks 118, and while this is thenormally intended service of the railway refrigerator car 10, it will,of course, be appreciated that the lading carriages 110 may be providedwith other facility for supporting or containing lading as may berequired in the handling of the lading contemplated.

In view of the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided inthe body of a railway car, or the like, an improved and simplifiedloading and unloading system that readily accommodates correspondingloading and unloading of the lading compartment through either of theside doorways thereof, as well as the ready handling of the ladingbetween the normal storage positions and the transfer position thereof.Moreover, in the arrangement, vibration damping is provided between eachone of the lading beams and the common pair of guide rails upon whichthe lading beams are mounted, thereby to prevent the transmission ofundue vibration between the body and the lading carried by the ladingcarriages that are, in turn, carried by the lading beams mentioned.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be thepreferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood thatvarious modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to coverin the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the truespirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a body for a railway car, or the like, including elongatedsubstantially box-like structure defining a lading chamber, saidstructure including a pair of upstanding opposed side walls and a pairof upstanding opposed end walls, one of said side walls being providedwith an upstanding doorway in the central portion thereof and affordingaccess into the adjacent side of said lading chamber; the combinationcomprising a pair of longitudinally extending and laterally spaced-apartguide rails carried by said structure within said lading chamber andrespectively disposed adjacent to the top inner portions of said sidewalls, the opposite ends of each of said guide rails respectivelyterminating adjacent to said end walls and the central portion of one ofsaid guide rails extending over the top of said doorway, a laterallyextending beam arranged in the top of said lading chamber, meansincluding a pair of guide rollers respectively mounted upon the oppositeends of said beam and respectively engaging said guide rails forsupporting said beam for guided rolling movements along said guide railsin said lading chamber, said beam having a transfer position disposedadjacent to said doorway and a storage position disposed away from saiddoorway, latching mechanism for selectively restraining said beam ineither one of its positions named, a pair of laterally extending ladingrails arranged in side-by-side relation with respect to each other andcarried by said beam and positioned therebelow, turn around mechanismadapted to be supported in the top portion of said doorway incooperating relation with the adjacent outer ends of said lading railswhen said beam occupies its transfer position, said turn-aroundmechanism including a rotatably mounted platform having two positionsand carrying a pair of transfer rails arranged in side-by-side relationwith respect to each other, the inner ends of first and second of saidtransfer rails being respectively disposed in cooperating relation withthe adjacent outer ends of first and second of said lading rails whensaid platform occupies a first of its positions and said beam occupiesits transfer position, the inner ends of said first and second transferrails being respectively disposed in cooperating relation with theadjacent outer ends of said second and first lading rails when saidplatform occupies a second of its positions and said beam occupies itstransfer position, and a plurality of roller-mounted lading carriersadapted to be supported by either one of said transfer rails for rollingmovements therealong and adapted to be readily placed and removed withrespect to either one of said transfer rails through said doorway,whereby one of said lading carriages may be rolled in either directionbetween one of said transfer rails and either one of said lading railsdepending upon the position of said platform and with said beam in itstransfer position.

2. In a body for a railway car, or the like, including elongatedsubstantially box-like structure defining a lading chamber, saidstructure including a pair of upstanding opposed side walls and a pairof upstanding opposed end walls, one of said side walls being providedwith an upstanding doorway in the central portion thereof and affordingaccess into the adjacent side of said lading chamber; the combinationcomprising a pair of longitudinally extending and laterally spaced-apartguide rails carried by said structure within said lading chamber andrespectively disposed adjacent to the top inner portions of said sidewalls, the opposite ends of each of said guide rails respectivelyterminating adjacent to said end walls and the central portion of one ofsaid guide rails extending over the top of said doorway, a laterallyextending beam arranged in the top of said lading chamber, meansincluding a pair of guide rollers respectively mounted upon the oppositeends of said beam and respectively engaging said guide rails forsupporting said beam for guided rolling movements along said guide railsin said lading chamber, said beam having a transfer position disposedadjacent to said doorway and a storage position disposed away from saiddoorway, latching mechanism for selectively restraining said beam ineither one of its positions named, a pair laterally extending ladingrails arranged in side-by-side relation with respect to each other andcarried by said beam and positioned therebelow, turn-around mechanismincluding a rotatably mounted platform having two positions and carryinga pair of transfer rails arranged in side-by-side relation with respectto each other, means carried by said one side wall for detachablysupporting said turn-around mechanism in the top portion of said doorwayin cooperating relation with the adjacent outer ends of said ladingrails when said beam occupies its transfer position, the inner ends offirst and second of said transfer rails being respectively disposed incooperating relation with the adjacent outer ends of first and second ofsaid lading rails when said platform occupies a first of its positionsand said beam occupies its transfer position, the inner ends of saidfirst and second transfer rails being respectively disposed incooperating relation with the adjacent outer ends of said second andfirst lading rails when said platform occupies a second of its positionsand said beam occupies its transfer position, and a plurality ofroller-mounted lading carriers adapted to be supported by either one ofsaid transfer rails for rolling movements therealong and adapted to bereadily placed and removed with respect to either one of said transferrails through said doorway, whereby one of said lading carriages may berolled in either direction between one of said transfer rails and eitherone of said lading rails depending upon the position of said platformand with said beam in its transfer position.

3. In a body for a railway car, or the like, including elongatedsubstantially box-like structure defining a lading chamber, saidstructure including a pair of upstanding opposite side walls and a pairof upstanding opposed end walls, one of said side walls being providedwith an upstanding doorway in the central portion thereof and affordingaccess into the adjacent side of said lading chamber; the combinationcomprising a pair of longitudinally extending and laterally spaced-apartguide rails carried by said structure within said lading chamber andrespectively disposed adjacent to the top inner portions of said sidewalls, the opposite ends of each of said guide rails respectivelyterminating adjacent to said end walls and the central portion of one ofsaid guide rails extending over the top of said doorway, a laterallyextending beam arranged in the top of said lading chamber, meansincluding a pair of guide rollers respectively mounted upon the oppositeends of said beam and respectively engaging said guide rails forsupporting said beam for guided rolling movements along said guide railsin said lading chamber, said beam having a transfer position disposedadjacent to said doorway and a storage posiiton disposed away from saiddoorway, latching mechanism for selectively restraining said beam ineither one of its positions named, a pair of laterally extending ladingrails arranged in side-by-side relation with respect to each other andcarried by said beam and positioned therebelow, a bracket detachablysupported by said one side wall and positioned in said doorway, saidbracket carrying an outer pair of receiving rails arranged insideby-side relation with respect to each other and an inner turn-aroundmechanism, said turn-around mechanism including a rotatably mountedplatform having two positions and carrying a pair of transfer railsarranged in sideby-side relation with respect to each other, the innerends of first and second of said receiving rails being respectivelydisposed in cooperating relation with the outer ends of first and secondof said transfer rails when said platform occupies a first of itspositions and the inner ends of said first and second receiving railsbeing respectively disposed in cooperating relation with the outer endsof said second and first transfer rails when said platform occupies asecond of its positions, the inner ends of said first and secondtransfer rails being respectively disposed in cooperating relation withthe outer ends of first and second of said lading rails when saidplatform occu pies its first position with said brackets in itssupported position and with aid beam in its transfer position and theinner ends of said first and second transfer rails being respectivelydisposed in cooperating relation with the outer ends of said second andfirst lading rails when said platform occupies its second position withsaid bracket in its supported position and with said beam in itstransfer position, and a plurality of roller-mounted lading carriersadapted to be supported by either one of said receiving rails forrolling movements therealong and adapted to be readily placed andremoved with respect to either one of said receiving rails through saiddoorway, whereby one of said lading carriages may be rolled in eitherdirection between either one of said receiving rails and either one ofsaid lading rails across one of said transfer rails depending upon theposition of said platform with said bracket in its supported positionand with said beam in its transfer position.

4. In a body for a railway car, or the like, including elongatedsubstantially box-like structure defining a lading chamber, saidstructure including a pair of upstanding opposed side walls and a pairof upstanding opposed end walls, one of said side walls being providedwith an upstanding doorway in the central portion thereof and affordingaccess into the adjacent side of said lading chamber; the combinationcomprising a pair of longitudinal extending and laterally spaced-apartguide rails carried by said structure within said lading chamber andrespectively disposed adjacent to the top inner portions of said sidewalls, the opposite ends of each of said guide rails respectivelyterminating adjacent to said end walls and the central portion of one ofsaid guide rails extending over the top of said doorway, a laterallyextending beam arranged in the top of said lading chamber, meansincluding a pair of guide rollers respectively mounted upon the oppositeends of said beam and respectively engaging said guide rails forsupporting said beam for guided rolling movements along said guide railsin said lading chamber, said beam having a transfer position disposedadjacent to said doorway and a storage position disposed away rom saiddoorway, latching mechanisms for selectively restraining said beam ineither one of its positions named, a pair of laterally extending ladingrails arranged in sideby-side relation with respect to each other andcarried by said beam and positioned therebelow, turn-around mechanismadapted to be detachably secured to said lading rails when said beamoccupies its transfer position and supported in the top portion of saiddoorway by said lading rails in cooperating relation with the adjacentouter ends thereof, said turn-around mechanism including a rotatablymounted platform having two positions and carrying a pair of transferrails arranged in side-by-side relation with respect to each other, theinner ends of first and second of said transfer rails being respectivelydisposed in cooperating relation with the adjacent outer ends of firstand second of said lading rails when said platform occupies a first ofits positions and said beam occupies its transfer position, the innerends of said first and second transfer rails being respectively disposedin cooperating relation with the adjacent outer ends of said second andfirst lading rails when said platform occupies a second of its positionsand said beam occupies its transfer position, and a plurality ofroller-mounted lading carriers adapted to be supported by either one ofsaid transfer rails for rolling movements therealong and adapted to bereadily placed and removed with respect to either one of said transferrails through said doorway, whereby one of said lading carriages may berolled in either direction between one of said transfer rails and eitherone of said lading rails depending upon the position of said platformand with said beam in its transfer position.

5. In a body for a railway car, or the like, including elongatedsubstantially box-like structure defining a lading chamber, saidstructure including a pair of upstanding opposed side walls and a pairof upstanding opposed end walls, one of said side walls being providedwith an upstanding doorway in the central portion thereof and affordingaccess into the adjacent side of said lading chamber; the combinationcomprising a pair of longitudinally 15 extending and laterallyspaced-apart guide rails carried by said structure within said ladingchamber and respectively disposed adjacent to the top inner portions ofsaid side walls, the opposite ends of each of said guide railsrespectively terminating adjacent to said end walls and the centralportion of one of said guide rails extending over the top of saiddoorway, a laterally extending beam arranged in the top of said ladingchamber, means including a pair of guide rollers respectively mountedupon the opposite ends of said beam and respectively engaging said guiderails for supporting said beam for guided rolling movements along saidguide rails in said lading chamher, said beam having a transfer positiondisposed adjacent to said doorway and a storage position disposed awayfrom said doorway, latching mechanism for selectively restraining saidbeam in either one of its positions named. a pair of laterally extendinglading rails arranged in sideby-side relation with respect to each otherand carried by said beam and positioned therebelow, turn-aroundmechanism adapted to be detachably secured to said one side wall andsupported thereby in the top portion of said doorway and in cooperatingrelation with the adjacent outer ends of said lading rails when saidbeam occupies its transfer position, said turn-around mechanismincluding a rotatably mounted platform having two positions and carryinga pair of transfer rails arranged in side-byside relation with respectto each other, the inner ends of first and second of said transfer railsbeing respectively disposed in cooperating relation with the adjacentouter ends of first and second of said lading rails when said platformoccupies a first of its positions and said beam occupies its tranferposition, the inner ends of said first and second transfer rails beingrespectively disposed in cooperating relation with the adjacent outerends of said second and first lading rails when said platform occupies asecond of its positions and said beam occupies its transfer position,and a plurality of roller-mounted lading carriers adapted to besupported by either one of said transfer rails for rolling movementstherealong and adapted to be readily placed and removed with respect toeither one of said transfer rails through said doorway, whereby one ofsaid lading carriages may be rolled in either direction between one ofsaid transfer rails and either one of said lading rails depending uponthe position of said platform and with said beam in its transferposition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,825,683 Stedefeld et a1 Oct. 6, 1931 l,titl,ll8 Lord NOV. 3, 19311,869,421 Harris Aug. 2, 1932 2,132,840 Workman et al Oct. 11, 19382,168,553 Baillie Aug. 8, 1939 2,l98,l55 Fahland Apr. 23, l940 a,272,639Jack Feb. 10, 1942 2,657,643 Swanback et a1 Nov. 3, 1953

1. IN A BODY FOR A RAILWAY CAR, OR THE LIKE, INCLUDING ELONGATEDSUBSTANTIALLY BOX-LIKE STRUCTURE DEFINING A LADING CHAMBER, SAIDSTRUCTURE INCLUDING A PAIR OF UPSTANDING OPPOSED SIDE WALLS AND A PAIROF UPSTANDING OPPOSED END WALLS, ONE OF SAID SIDE WALLS BEING PROVIDEDWITH AN UPSTANDING DOORWAY IN THE CENTRAL PORTION THEREOF AND AFFORDINGACCESS INTO THE ADJACENT SIDE OF SAID LADING CHAMBER; THE COMBINATIONCOMPRISING A PAIR OF LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING AND LATERALLY SPACED-APARTGUIDE RAILS CARRIED BY SAID STRUCTURE WITHIN SAID LADING CHAMBER ANDRESPECTIVELY DISPOSED ADJACENT TO THE TOP INNER PORTIONS OF SAID SIDEWALLS, THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF EACH OF SAID GUIDE RAILS RESPECTIVELYTERMINATING ADJACENT TO SAID END WALLS AND THE CENTRAL PORTION OF ONE OFSAID GUIDE RAILS EXTENING OVER THE TOP OF SAID DOORWAY, A LATERALLYEXTENDING BEAM ARRANGED IN THE TOP OF SAID LADING CHAMBER, MEANSINCLUDING A PAIR OF GUIDE ROLLERS RESPECTIVELY MOUNTED UPON THE OPPOSITEENDS OF SAID BEAM AND RESPECTIVELY ENGAGING SAID GUIDE RAILS FORSUPPORTING SAID BEAM FOR GUIDED ROLLING MOVEMENTS ALONG SAID GUIDE RAILSIN SAID LADING CHAMBER, SAID BEAM HAVING A TRANSFER POSITION DISPOSEDADJACENT TO SAID DOORWAY AND A STORAGE POSITION DISPOSED AWAY FROM SAIDDOORWAY, LATCHING MECHANISM FOR SELECTIVELY RESTRAINING SAID BEAM INEITHER ONE OF ITS POSITIONS NAMED, A PAIR OF LATERALLY EXTENDING LADINGRAILS ARRANGED IN SIDE-BY-SIDE RELATION WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER ANDCARRIED BY SAID BEAM AND POSITIONED THEREBELOW, TURN-AROUND MECHANISMADAPTED TO BE SUPPORTED IN THE TOP PORTION OF SAID DOORWAY INCOOPERATING RELATION WITH THE ADJACENT OUTER ENDS OF SAID LADING RAILSWHEN SAID BEAM OCCUPIES ITS TRANSFER POSITION, SAID TURN-AROUNDMECHANISM INCLUDING A ROTATABLY MOUNTED PLATFORM HAVING TWO POSITIONSAND CARRYING A PAIR OF TRANSFER RAILS ARRANGED IN SIDE-BY-SIDE RELATIONWITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER, THE INNER ENDS OF FIRST AND SECOND OF SAIDTRANSFER RAILS BEING RESPECTIVELY DISPOSED IN COOPERATING RELATION WITHTHE ADJACENT OUTER ENDS OF FIRST AND SECOND OF SAID LADING RAILS WHENSAID PLATFORM OCCUPIES A FIRST OF ITS POSITIONS AND SAID BEAM OCCUPIESITS TRANSFER POSITION, THE INNER ENDS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND TRANSFERRAILS BEING RESPECTIVELY DISPOSED IN COOPERATING RELATION WITH THEADJACENT OUTER ENDS OF SAID SECOND AND FIRST LADING RAILS WHEN SAIDPLATFORM OCCUPIES A SECOND OF ITS POSITIONS AND SAID BEAM OCCUPIES ITSTRANSFER POSITION, AND A PLURALITY OF ROLLER-MOUNTED LADING CARRIERSADAPTED TO BE SUPPORTED BY EITHER ONE OF SAID TRANSFER RAILS FOR ROLLINGMOVEMENTS THEREALONG AND ADAPTED TO BE READILY PLACED AND REMOVED WITHRESPECT TO EITHER ONE OF SAID TRANSFER RAILS THROUGH SAID DOORWAY,WHEREBY ONE OF SAID LADING CARRIAGES MAY BE ROLLED IN EITHER DIRECTIONBETWEEN ONE OF SAID TRANSFER RAILS AND EITHER ONE OF SAID LADING RAILSDEPENDING UPON THE POSITION OF SAID PLATFORM AND WITH SAID BEAM IN ITSTRANSFER POSITION.